Latch for receptacle

ABSTRACT

A latch is disclosed for a closure on a receptacle so that the closure may be easily retained in a latched condition and may easily be unlatched by manual operation employing one hand. The latch is mounted on a projection extending outwardly from said closure. The projection has mounted thereon, a member having generally an L-shaped configuration. The member is pivotally mounted at the juncture of the two legs. One leg has a means which is held by a keeper mounted on the receptacle when the closure is latched.

O United States Patent [191 [111 3,709,538

Seitz et al. 1 Jan. 9, 1973 [54] LATCH FOR RECEPTACLE 2,251,138 7/1941 Knight ..292/128 [75] Inventors: Lamont J. Seitz, Huntington Beach; Prima ry Examiner-Robert L. Wolfe gtsl iifhen G. Hauser, Tarzana, both of Atwmey Scott Meyer [73] Assignee: Baxter Laboratories, Inc., Morton ABSTRACT Grove A latch is disclosed for a closure on a receptacle so [22] Filed: July 28, 1971 that the closure may be easily retained in a latched condition and may easily be unlatched by manual [21] Appl 166797 operation employing one hand. The latch is mounted on a projection extending outwardly from said closure. 52 U.S. C1 ..292/128,292/D1G. 31, 292 1310. 38 The projection has mounted thereon, a member [51] Int. Cl. ..E05c 19/10 ing generally an L-shaped configuration. The member [58] Field of Search.....292/128, 228, 256, 256.5, 56, 292/101, DIG. 31, DIG. 38, DIG. 30, DIG.

is pivotally mounted at the juncture of the two legs. One leg has a means which is held by a keeper 34 mounted on the receptacle when the closure is latched.

6 f t d [5 1 Re erences e 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,049,910 8/1936 Kroll 292/l28 X I l/ r I I7 '2 3| 5 2e; 30 i 1 29-- 1 4e 2e LATCH FOR RECEPTACLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The prior art is replete with many types of operating latches which are utilized to retain in a latched condition closures mounted on receptacles. The latches of the prior art may have complex operating means or they may be extremely simple. With regard to the necessity of providing a particular type of latch in the present situation, it has been found desirable to design and provide a latch for a receptacle which, in fact, has mounted therein a centrifuge. Obviously, a centrifuge, for aesthetic and safety reasons, must have a cover which can be latched during operation. Additionally, such a latch mechanism should be operable manually by means of one hand, as frequently, the other hand is used to hold one or more tubes which are to be centrifuged.

The design artisans have also entered the field of providing attractive surroundings and fixtures in laboratories. Consequently, many of the centrifuges being marketed have covers thereon which provide pleasing decor and clearly indicate therefrom that the centrifuge and the equipment in the laboratory is of the most modern and advanced type. Accordingly, a latch, which functions adequately, of the prior art does not oftentimes provide a pleasing appearance.

Finally, the prior art latches by being constructed in a complex manner require a number of parts and pieces all of which have the tendency to pick up dirt and become unclean.

It will be seen, therefore, that the epitome of modern day equipment utilized in a laboratory provide not only utilization, but are also pleasing aesthetically, require fewer new moving parts than heretofore, may be fabricated inexpensively and last but not least, do not have multiplicity of crevices into which dirt and chemicals may accumulate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates a receptacle containing, for instance, a centrifuge. The receptacle, may be cylindrical, square or rectangular, or even polygonal. The receptacle is fitted with a hinged over of which is designed and has suitable dimensions so that the outer peripheral portion thereof, is flush with the outer wall of the receptacle when the cover is in position.

The cover has secured thereto, the latch mechanism of the present invention. Generally, the latch is secured to a projection which extends radially from the cover and is flush for the most part therewith. Specifically, the latch mechanism includes an L-shaped member having a horizontally disposed first leg and a depending vertically disposed second leg. The L-shaped member is pivoted to the said projection at the common juncture of the two legs. Inwardly projecting from substantially the bottom portion of the vertical leg is a means which mates with a projection on the receptacle. A suitable friction fit provides for locking. The other horizontal leg is designed to pivot downwardly into a depression located in the receptacle. A spring, located in this depression, biases the horizontal leg upward. This depression may take the form of a centrally disposed cylindrical concavity or it may be a rectangularly shaped well.

The latch mechanism may be easily operated, such as by unlatching with one hand, by putting a portion of the thumb at the edge of the depending leg with the fingers of the hand on the upper leg in a direction towards the center of the closure. The latch is operated by pressing with the fingers on the upper leg and lifting with the thumb to unmate the projection on the vertical leg from the keeper retaining same.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a receptacle and a closure thereon, being latched by the means of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of the cover with the latch means exploded therefrom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Attention is directed to FIG. 1 where a receptacle, shown generally, by reference numeral 11 has a cover 12 thereon. It will be seen from the embodiment of FIG. 1 that the cover and the receptacle are cylindrical in shape. The cover 12 has a hinge 13 as can be more clearly seen from FIG. 2. a

For a description of the latch, of the present invention, all the figures should be viewed together. The latch mechanism of the present invention has an L- shaped member 14 having a horizontally disposed leg 15 and a depending vertical leg 16. At the juncture of legs 15 and 16 there is a thickened portion 17. A bore 18 extends through the thickened portion 17. The bore 18 has a longitudinal slot 19 along its entire length. A

tongue 20 is secured to the cover 12 and projects outwardly radially therefrom beyond the periphery of cover 12. Tongue 20 has a rod 21 secured thereto, which may be attached by suitable means or may be formed integrally with tongue 20. The rod 21 has a larger elongated dimension than the width of the tongue 20. From FIG, 4, it will be seen that rod 21 projects for a short distance at each side of tongue 20.

The latch mechanism is secured to the cover by sliding the L-shaped member 14 by means of the bore 18 onto rod 21 with the connecting part of tongue 20 extending through slot 19.

The diameter of rod 21 is somewhat less than the internal diameter of bore 18 so that rod 21 is concentrically displaced from the inner wall of bore 18. Bushings 23 having a cup configuration are secured to the projecting ends 24 of rod 21. FIG. 3 depicts bushings 23 mounted on the ends 24 of rod 21. The bushings 23 have outwardly radially extending flanges 25 which act to retain the L-shaped member in place on rod 21, while the bushings 23 are suitably retained to rod 21. The L-shaped member 14 pivots around the outer peripheral wall of bushings 23. The rod 21 therefore does not act as an axle.

The vertical depending leg 16 has an inwardly extending projection 26 mounted substantially near the end of leg 16. A peripheral wall 27 of receptacle 11 has an outwardly extending projection 28. Projections 26 and 28 are positioned so that when the latch mechanism is in the position depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2,

. the underside 29 of projection 28, for a portion thereof,

is in wedged fit with the upperside 30, for a portion thereof, of projection 26. Projection 28 acts as a keeper.

Horizontal leg 'at one end outwardly extends beyond thickened portion 17 to provide an edge 30. Located beneath a part of the other end, the cover 12 has a well depression 31. The spring 32 biases the horizontal leg 15 upward.

In operation, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the latch mechanism is operated quite simply. For instance, the L-shaped member 14 is grasped so that the thumb of the hand is in position at the downwardly facing edge of leg 16 while the fingers rest on the surface of leg 15 in a direction towards the center of the cover. By using the fingers to depress the end of leg 15 the L-shaped member 14 will pivot about bushings 23 moving in a direction towards the well 31. The thumb may be utilized to assist in retracting projection 26 from its wedged fit alignment with the underside 29 of projection 28. When the unlatching step has been completed the cover may be raised by the L-shaped member of the present invention which also acts as a handle to raise cover 12.

In the unlatched position, the lower edge of slot 19 contacts the lower surface of tongue 20, thus limiting the movement produced by the force of spring 32. The latch is thereby kept in an optimum position to slide over projection 28 and latch itself by simply lowering the cover.

In relatching, the cover is dropped into position and the wedged fit engagement, mentioned in the above, is reinstituted by the action of the spring force of spring 32 forcing projection 26 to have its upper surface 30 in a wedged fit with the under surface 29 of projection 28 as before.

The material of construction of the present latch mechanism may be entirely of plastic or metal or any other suitable rigid structural material. By employing bushings'23 of thermoplastic material, the bushing surface utilized for pivoting may be self-lubricating and provide a smooth operation as would be desirable.

By designing a latch mechanism of the type illustrated, there will be ease of fabrication as the L-shaped member 14 is simply slid onto rod 21, as mentioned in the above, and the bushings are then inserted at both ends into bore 18.

While, in the foregoing, the receptacle has been said to contain a centrifuge, it will be appreciated that the latch mechanism of the present invention need not be limited to a receptacle containing a centrifuge. Many other types of laboratory equipment can be positioned in such a receptacle access to which may be had from the top. On the other hand, the receptacle may be constructed to contain innumerable devices and materials.

By providing for a pivoting momentum around a pivot point extending radially beyond the periphery of the closure, the device has been constructed so that through natural gravitational forces and the force of spring 32 projections 26 and 28 will be caused to mate when the lid is closed.

What is claimed is:

l. A latch for a hinged closure on a receptacle comprising a tongue projecting outwardly from the eri he of said closure, said ton ue terminatin in a r od Lori figuration normal to said tongue and l nger than the width of said tongue whereby a portion of the rod extends beyond each side of the tongue, a member having an L-shaped configuration, said L-shaped member having a first leg normally substantially parallel with the top portion of said closure, and having a second leg normally substantially parallel with a side wall of said receptacle, said L-shaped member being pivotally mounted by means substantially at the apex of said first and second legs to said rod portion of said tongue, said first leg being spring biased upward, said second leg having a projection directed towards a wall of said receptacle, said wall having a keeper means whereby said projection and said keeper means cooperate to retain said latch in a latched condition.

2. The latch of claim 1 wherein the said tongue is flush with said closure, and the closure has a depression into which a portion of the first leg is swung when said latch is unlatched.

3. The latch of claim 2 wherein the first leg has a portion extending beyond the apex where the first leg and the second leg meet.

4. The latch of claim 3 wherein the apex of said first and second legs has an elongated bore, therethrough, the wall of said slot has a longitudinal slot therethrough, said rod being positioned in said bore and the portion of said tongue attached to said rod projecting through said slot.

5. The latch of claim 4 wherein the rod is spaced from the wall of said bore by bushings.

6. The latch of claim 5 wherein the width of said L- shaped member in the region of said bore is substantially identical with the length of said rod.

7. The latch of claim 6 wherein the bushings are positioned at the ends of the rod and each has an outwardly radially extending flange of larger diameter than said bore, one side of each flange adapted to be seated against the apex of said first and second legs whereby to retain said L-shaped member thereon.

a: s a: a: k 

1. A latch for a hinged closure on a receptacle comprising a tongue projecting outwardly from the periphery of said closure, said tongue terminating in a rod configuration normal to said tongue and longer than the width of said tongue whereby a portion of the rod extends beyond each side of the tongue, a member having an L-shaped configuration, said L-shaped member having a first leg normally substantially parallel with the top portion of said closure, and having a second leg normally substantially parallel with a side wall of said receptacle, said L-shaped member being pivotally mounted by means substantially at the apex of said first and second legs to said rod portion of said tongue, said first leg being spring biased upward, said second leg having a projection directed towards a wall of said receptacle, said wall having a keeper means whereby said projection and said keeper means cooperate to retain said latch in a latched condition.
 2. The latch of claim 1 wherein the said tongue is flush with said closure, and the closure has a depression into which a portion of the first leg is swung when said latch is unlatched.
 3. The latch of claim 2 wherein the first leg has a portion extending beyond the apex where the first leg and the second leg meet.
 4. The latch of claim 3 wherein the apex of said first and second legs has an elongated bore, therethrough, the wall of said slot has a longitudinal slot therethrough, said rod being positioned in said bore and the portion of said tongue attached to said rod projecting through said slot.
 5. The latch of clAim 4 wherein the rod is spaced from the wall of said bore by bushings.
 6. The latch of claim 5 wherein the width of said L-shaped member in the region of said bore is substantially identical with the length of said rod.
 7. The latch of claim 6 wherein the bushings are positioned at the ends of the rod and each has an outwardly radially extending flange of larger diameter than said bore, one side of each flange adapted to be seated against the apex of said first and second legs whereby to retain said L-shaped member thereon. 